Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.